Brake and gas control for automobiles



March 22, v1932. F. DI TRAPANI 1,850,744

' BRAKE AND GAS CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 3, 1951 2 Sheets-sheet VII J'mvzk fiz'fmparzz',

- ATTORNEY E March 22, 1932. 01 TRAPANl 1,850,744

BRAKE AND GAS CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 5, 1931 o 2 sheets-Shee 2 \NVENTOR M& ATTORNEYS l atented Mar. 22; .1932

FRANK nrrnareni, or. BQSTON, MASSACHUSETTS BR Ann GAS conrnor, non AUTOMOBILES 'application fileulip ril 3,1931. Serial No. 527,556. g

" This invention relates to brake and fuel controls for automobiles and has for theprimary object the provision of a device of the above stated character whereby an impact:

to the automobile will 'automatically apply the brakes and close the fuel throttle of the engine to reduce the serious results of accidents to a minimum, caused by the automobile colliding .withjother objects. i

Anotherobject-of this invention is the pro vision of means associated with the bumper of the automobile and connected to the brakes v and throttle" of the engine .that will automatically apply the brakes and close the throttle by an impact against anypart of the bumper. WVith these; and other objects inview, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. V p

I For "a- 'c'omplete understanding-of my i ventionyreferenceis to be had to the follow ing-description and accompanying'dra'wings in whichw Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a'portion of an automobile with my invention applied'the'reto; Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the same. a I 7 3G Figure 3 is a front elevationillustrating the bumper. l

4 Figure 4 is a rear the same; I

line 55 of Figurel i' Referring in" detail to the vdrawings, the.

numeral 1 "indicates a" fragmentary portion 7 ofan autoinobileiin which the chassis 2-is shown as supporting the engine 3' andhaved on the rods 13 between theinner and outer elevation illustrating. Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the 'Figure'6 is anlenlarged fragmentary rear view ofthebumper with the operating cable Figure is asimilar view illustrating. a

adjustably connected by a turn buckle 28 ing the front axle 4 on whichthe front wheels 5 are journalled. The chassis 2 has associated therewith the usual brake rigging 6 operated through the medium-of a foot pedal 7. M The speed of the engine 3 is' controlled by a throttle rod 8. l The foregoingdescription, relates-to a well known construction of auto-- mobile to which my invention is applied.

A bumper "9 is associated with the front l. A end of the chassis 2. and includes inner and co ,outer'bars 10 and 11 pivotally connected at their ends by spring elements 12. As shown in Figure 1 the outer bar 10 is of a greater length than the inner bar 11 and has its ends curved 'rearwardly. and terminating in substantial parallelism with the bar 11 and connected thereto by the spring elements 12 which have pivotal connection to both of the bars 10 and 11.

Rods 13 are detachably securedto the oute bar 10 at spaced intervals and are slidably received' through bearings 14 formed-on thein ner bar 11 and'have secured thereto clips 15 by nuts 16. Expansion springs 17 are mount-- barslO and 11 for the purpose of urging said bars away fromeach other. Semi-cylindrical shaped covers 18 are disposed over the springs 17 and rods 13 and have formed on. one of their ends apertured ears 19"that re- 80' ceive the rods 13 and bear against the inner face of the outer bar 10 while the opposite ends of the covers slide through arcuate shapedslots 20 formed on the inner bar 11.

A bracket 21 is secured tojthe front'end s. of the chassis2 and has its ends bent upon themselves to provide spaced-resilient attachingportions 22 which arebolted orotherwise secured to the inner bar 11 for cushioning; v and attaching the bumper't o'thechassis. 90'

f The innerbar 11 is provided 'with'aplurality of guide loops 23 through whichpass flexible cables, 24 that are connected to the forward end of a rod 25. The flexible ele mentsfaresecuredto thev clips 15 and the rod 25 is slidably mountedin a bracket 26 car riedby the 'cliassis' iand.l1as a pin and slot connection with the brake rigging as shown at 27 The rod 25 -includesa pair of sections ion whereby the length of the rod may be varied and also ermits the device to be properly adjusted or operation in conjunction wit the brake rigging 6.

A bracket 29 is secured to the chassis and has pivoted thereto an arm 30 one end of which is pivoted to a link 31 havin a pin and slot connection 32 with the thrott e rod 8 while the other end of the arm 30 is adapted to be engaged by a lug 33 secured to the rod 25. With the rod 25 connected to the brake rigging 6 by the pin and slot connection 27 and the pin and slot connection 32 between the links 31 and the throttle rod 8, the brakes and speed of the engine can be controlled in the usual way without affecting or moving the rod 25.

In case of a collision, the impact on any part of the outer bar 10 of the bumper 9 causes a pull on the flexible elements 24 which moves the rod 25 forwardly exerting a pull on the brake riggingapplying the brakes and simultaneously closing the throttle valve of the engine. When the pressure on the outer bar 10 is removed, the latter returns to its inzitial position by the influence of the springs 1 As shown in Figures 1 and 3 the ends of the rods 13 attached to the outer bar 10 of the bumper are covered by ornamental plates 38.

WVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, .as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device of they character set :forthcomprising a ,protectingmember including pivotally connected bars, means forconnecting the member to a motor vehicle, a cushioning means between said bars, and means associated with the cushioning means and connected to the brake rigging of the motor vehicleand thethrottle of the latter for applying the brakes and closing the throttle when an impact is received by the protecting mem- 2. A device of the character set forth com.- prising a protecting member including pivota'lly connected bars, a combined cushioning and securingmeans attaching thememher to a motor vehicle, cushioning means between'said bars, means connecting the cush-, ioning means to the brake rigging and throttleof the motor vehicle for applying the brakes andclosing the throttle when an im pact is received by the protecting member;

.3. A device of the character set forth comprising a protecting member including spaced zpiv'otally connected bars, means connectingthe member to amotor -vehicle,irods secured to one of the bars and slidably connected to the other bar, cushioning means on said rods between the bars, and means conmeeting the rods to the brake rigging and throttle of the motor vehicle for applying the brakes and closing the throttle when an impact is received by the protecting member.

4. A device of the character set forth comprising a protecting member including bars pivotally connected, means connecting the member to a motor vehicle, rods detachably secured to one of the bars and slidable through the other bar, tension means on said rods and bearingagainst the bars, flexible means connecting said rods, and means connesting the flexible means to the hrakejriggin and throttle of the motor vehicle for app ying the brakes and closing the throttle when an impact is received by the protecting member.

5. A device of the character set forth comprising a protecting member includng movably connected bars, means connecting the member to a motor vehicle, rods secured to one of said bars and slidable through the other bar, tension means between said bars and mounted on the rods, covers for-said tension means mounted onsaid rods andengaging one of the bars and slidable through the other bar, and means for connectingtherods to .thebrake rigging and throttle of the motor vehicle for applying the brakes and closing the ,throttle when an impact is received by the protecting member.

6. A device of the character setforthcom- 7 prising aprotectingmember including inner and outer bars, means movably connecting the bars, means connecting the inner bar to a motor vehicle, rods detachably secured to the outer bar and slidable through the inner barntension means between sad bars and mounted on the rods, flexible element-s connected to the rods, guides on the inner bar for the flexible elements, and means connectingtheflexibleelements to the brake rigging and throttle of the motor vehicle forapplying thebrakes and closing the throttle when {in impact is received by the protectingmem- 7 A device of the character set (forth com- 1 prising a protecting member, yieldable means carr1ed ;by the protecting member, means connecting the protecting member to a motor vehicle, a slidably mounted rod carried by the motor vehicle and connected tothe yieldable meansand to the:brake rigging of the motorvehlcle, apivotally mounted arm connected to the throttle of the motor vehicle,

and a lug carried by the rod to engage said 

